Dinner made in a coffeemaker? Why would anyone ever want to do that? If you are a student in a dorm, a soldier deployed in the field, or stuck in a hotel room for some reason, a drip coffeemaker might be the only appliance available for food preparation, And it can be done. NPR outlines three basic techniques:

1. Steam: The basket at the top is a great place to steam vegetables. You can throw in broccoli, cauliflower or any vegetable that cooks in about the same time as those. 2. Poach: The carafe at the bottom serves as a simple vessel for poaching fish and chicken. You can also use it to hard-boil eggs or make couscous and oatmeal. 3. Grill: This technique is a bit more advanced — and time-consuming. But if you're really itching for a grilled cheese sandwich or a cinnamon bun in a motel room, the coffee maker's burner can serve as a miniature grill.